The Awakening Human Being: A Guide to the Power of the Mind [Paperback]

I'm not sure the title of Barbara Berger's book, The Awakening Human Being: a guide to the power of the mind, does justice to its simple brilliance. `How to think yourself happy' might have been a more compelling title for a book that clearly answers precisely that question I'm always being asked: how do we change our thoughts?

Barbara's aim is, first, to unpick the way our minds work, then to offer a range of simple and practical tools to help readers direct their thoughts towards a life of happiness - and to being present in life right here, right now.

Among the most powerful tools she shares is the technique of experiencing peace in every moment through staying detached. It's a technique described by Byron Katie in the inspirationally titled Loving what is. But in Barbara's hands what it means to practice acceptance and non-attachment is brought home more clearly than anything else I have yet come across.

Beyond absence of thought there are all those thoughts and beliefs, all those interpretations, which don't support our growth or peace of mind, and here too Barbara draws from Byron Katie's work to replay three of the most powerful words any of us committed to choosing a new soundtrack can use: is it true?

She takes us through some of her own demons, demonstrating how challenging a thought such as `life doesn't support me' can be turned around into the realisation that not only is it not true, but that thinking the thought leads her to feel stressed and scared; whereas allowing the possibility that life does support her makes her feel good. Her conclusion - that it's not life but her own thinking that's not supporting her - is something we could all do with engraving on our walls!

I love Barbara's personal and compassionate tone, and the careful way in which she explains and reinforces all the learning brings the book as close to actually being in one of her workshop as it's possible to be in print.

But most of all I love the way her book brought me back again and again to the simple truth that as we mind our minds we experience for ourselves the Buddha's truth that `It is your mind that creates this world'.

The author's intention in writing this book is to alert the reader to the nature of reality, to identify the obstacles to living that reality, and to offer tools to enable the reader to move towards it.

The book is divided into three main sections - firstly, the eleven mental laws that determine how the mind works; secondly, section two looks at the importance of using the mind wisely, and offers two sets of tools in order to facilitate this - a) focus tools, and b) investigation tools. Thirdly, the final section is all about how to put the first two sections of the book into practice in daily life.

In her introduction Berger begins by looking at the nature of reality, stating that it is our unrealistic expectations of life that lead to great unhappiness, and that it is our thoughts about something that determine our experience of it, rather than the thing itself.

This leads on naturally to the first part of the book, which is about the eleven mental laws that govern us all, no matter who we are. Some examples of these laws are as follows:- law no. 1 - thoughts come and go, and "no-one knows why or where thoughts come from....." (p.23). Law no. 4 - cause and effect - "the thoughts that we entertain - determine our experience of life" (p.36). In other words, it is how and what we think of something that makes it what it is for each individual, e.g. one person might experience cold weather as something unpleasant, whilst another might see it as bracing and energising - the weather is the same, but the responses are different. Law no. 9 - substitution - if our thoughts are causing us to be unhappy, it is no use telling ourselves not to think of that thing, because by its very nature there is an immediate focus on it. Instead, it's a shift of focus that's required.

These examples demonstrate the author's extraordinary clarity of thinking, and her straightforward writing-style, making her book accessible right from the outset. In this chapter, as in the rest of the book, Berger makes repeated invitations for the reader to test out her statements for themselves rather than just swallow her words whole. To this end, she gives simple step-by-step guidance.

Moving on to section two, this part of the book looks at just how we are creating our experience of reality and what that experience is. Further on in the book, the author states that "you can live a happy life now - no matter what your circumstances are" (p.92) - all you have to do is to make the choice to be happy. This does seem like a huge pill to swallow when considering , e.g. people who are living in extreme poverty and starvation; people living in fear for their lives on a daily basis.

Berger then presents the reader with two kinds of mind tools that are necessary in order to achieve the sort of change she is talking about. Firstly, focus tools. She makes the fundamental point that whatever a person focuses on, grows, and therefore focusing on positive thoughts can only improve a person's life, whilst being focused on negative thoughts will inevitably bring more misery. Some examples of the focus tools are:- 1) gratitude lists - literally, making lists each day of things to be grateful for such as having a comfortable bed, having running water, having good friends - the kind of things that we take so much for granted that we don't often think about them. Focus tool no. 4) What it takes to eat my breakfast, which is an exercise in appreciation of all that has gone into that experience, e.g. the farmer who planted and harvested the grain for the toast; the hens that laid the breakfast eggs; and the beauty of the crockery in use. Focus tool no. 8) Let everything be - i.e. just be with what is in any given moment without judging or resisting it. In all, there are eleven focus tools which do seem to encompass every aspect of being.

The author's investigation tools are techniques "that can help us identify, question and lessen our attachment to the negative thoughts and belief, that are preventing us from experiencing the goodness of life which is fully present right now" (p.132). There are five of these tools, two of which are - no.1) No comparisons - it is only by comparing 'this' to 'that' that we get angry, discontented and upset etc.. She is making the point that if this moment were the only one we had, and we had no memories of any other moments, it wouldn't be possible to compare it to any other moment, and the consequence would be peace of mind. No.3) Focusing on the real - when in crisis and panic begins to take over, it is very helpful and grounding to focus on the concrete, e.g. the chair on which we're sitting, the book on the table next to us, the plants across the room.

Throughout this section of her book Berger consistently offers practical exercises, things that we can actually do rather than just reading airy-fairy ideas that might be interesting in themselves but of no practical use.

The final chapter of Berger's book is devoted to the putting of all the above into practice. The structure that she offers is that of a daily programme, making the obvious yet often overlooked point that to make any change takes consistent practice and dedication. She suggests three different levels of daily practice, which she calls "Getting Real Light"; "Getting Real Regular"; and "Getting Real Turbo".

Following on immediately from the daily programmes, Berger talks about the fact that change is a process that is not necessarily an easy one - "....this is not to say that the journey will not be challenging. The reality is - the journey is challenging - and sometimes very challenging!" (p.171). In order to assist 'the journey' (reviewer's words), the author suggests that it is a good idea to have people for support, and also to be of help and service to others.

Berger's final comments are about the 'Ripple Effect' - ie. when we change, our world changes, and consequently the way we relate to others changes. Therefore the way others relate back to us changes, and this is the way the world changes for the better - starting with 'me'.

At the end of the book is what Berger calls "Bollum Talks to Barbara" - Bollum being her own personal Smeagol/Gollum (Lord of the Rings). It is written in conversational style and peppered with humour yet is very pertinent and gives a 'smack-in-the-eye' view of the kinds of internal conversations we all engage in.

Having got to the end of the book, it has become evident that the vast majority of the book focuses on the wonders of reality and how we can chose to be happy. Early on in the book it seems as it Berger isn't going to mention that change can be really hard work, but as the book progresses she does address this. Perhaps this is a reflection of her own thoughts that what we focus on, grows. Therefore, too much focus on the difficulties would probably have created obstacles and kept the reader stuck in the idea of this being too hard to do, i.e. seeing problems, not solutions.

It is hard to express in words just how profound this book is. The amount of information that Berger has put across is astonishing and leaves one feeling that this is food for the soul. She has absolutely delivered on her intention and her book is a must for anyone who is serious about changing their lives.

I've just finished The Awakening Human Being - and I find the book absolutely amazing! All points of view are so well argued, the language and meaning is so clear. And I love the fact that the author gets so concrete on e.g. daily practice. Few books of that kind do that.

The book means a lot to me, it's...I don't know how to express it - magic in a way.

It has enriched my spirituel life and made a difference in my life.

I have the feeling it's gonna follow me from now on - a chapter every now and then will keep me growing for the rest of my life.

I sincerely recommend "The Awakening Human Being".